Fastening device



Aug. 2@, 1935.

R ELLIS 2,012,040

FASTENING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

INVENTOR fic vLavla/le Aug. 20, 1935. R. ELLIS FASTENING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 9am 4J2 {2&5

Aug. 26, 1935.

R ELLIS FASTENING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w w "K i 1 /J5 INVENTOR Aug. 20, 1935. R. ELLIS fi fi FASTENING DEVICE Filed Aug. 9, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 M W 2 2 2 2 w w 2 M INVENTOR lids. dd, 222.;

, Patented A 20, 1935 zfilz m g Y UNlTED situates:its lii es'i*-v OFFICE;

V V 2,012,040 l I I .FASTENINGDEVICE v V nidsdale Ellis, New York, N. Y. Y Application August 9, 1933; Serial No. 684,354 12 Claims." (erase-179 This invention relates to fastening devices for forms Stakes as Well s means r connecting securing articles, such as less-thari-car-load conthe s e t the eornel'sfef the Container 511011 tainers, to vehicles, especiallyrailroad flat cars. a that /i seeurelyihraeed against v 'Railr0ad containers are usually carried on mehtllengitudinally 0f the fiatc r." These cone specially constructedcars' having sides, ends and vneciinsmeans are usually chains and the inven- 5 intermediate partitions forming a-series of. oomtiorl comprises means adiu tin the points of 'partments adapted to receive containers of com Operative Connection b tw t a s' d the plementary dimensions. The interfitting rela- .e the containersand for the Stakes tionship b t th containers and container such away that, irrespective of the relative posie cars makes interchangeability almost impossible. of the Containers. and the Stake pockets, 10 A flat car is in many ways an ideal carrier for chains r- I drawn taut and held taut containers. Such cars are to be. found almost While 1 l is 111 transit TThiS Provision everywhere and, further as there are no'pa-rts for adjustability is necessary for the reason that to be brought into interfitting relation with the the Oreineryflat cars w in s e in length,

containers,.they are adaptedto carry substantially widiihahd i Spacing of s e po ke y make of container. The dim lt h t f *Various forms of the inventionare illustrated has been the trouble and expense of securing conby W of e r ihithe accompanying drew" tainer onthe fiat car. 7 1 T 7 111%, w a i The principal object, therefore, of the present F 1 ise side elevation of the i l of eir'flet 1 ention is to provide cheap, simple and easily car with a container secured thereto by a fasten- 20,

operated fastening devices'for securing articles g device constructedih a or With the such as'lessthan-car-load containers on vehicles present invehtieh; V a such as railroad flat cars. 2 is plan v w of th s v 'A further objectfo'f the invention is to provide -.3 a Side elevation on an enlarged scale fastening means constructed sothat the loadof the Stake and its Stake P P ly ns c 25 retaining chains or the like can be drawn taut shell/hm 1? without th use f t b kl o other devices Fig. i is an end elevation of the stake alone, having sliding surfaces liable to rust up and freeze taken in-the direction ferrowein etogether. 1 t Q Fig. '5 is a section through the stake on the line 7 According to the present' invention, loads like efthe Fig; 1 I 30 railroadcontainers are secured to flat cars by uni- 61S a e elevatien on 'eillal'ged ea versally movable members, usually chains, con- 9f the chain e and adjacent p r ft e nnected to stakes or the like in the stake pockets 7 t of the car and also to the load. Where the inven- F s sa d' va f thesame, pa t ytion is applied to containers, each of. the. four Section; 1 35 corners of each container is connected by s'ucha 8 s a Section on the line of 6; member to a stake. These members extend from Fi 9 i n d lev n f e, ch m uide theoontainers to the stakes in a vertical plane own in 5} T Y which is roughly orsubstantiallyparallel to the s 9 a de levationof the'side sill of a v side sills of the flat car. By roughly or substanfiat car with a container secured thereto with tially parallel is meant a direction considerably modified form of fastening device;

nearer parallel than perpendicular to the side Fig. 11 is'aside elevation on an enlarged scale sills. They are, therefore, well adapted to pre of the stake and its stake pocket, shown in Fig, 10; vent longitudinal movement of the container with "Fig; 12 is an. end elevation f the yp t y i5 respect to the car. However, they are not so 111386111011; 7 1 welladapted to prevent transverse movement of F g. 18 a secfien 01113119 g. 2.; the container with respect to the car. If, how'- r Fig. 14 is aside elevationof the side sill of a 7 the container, the latter cannotmovelate'rally another form of fastening device; and I 0 beyond the'stake line. If it is desired positively Fig. 15is a sideelevation of a side. sill. of a flat D to prevent lateral'movement of the container 1 car with a container secured thereto with a still that can be done by inserting a wooden blookor' further formfo i fastening device. wedge between thestake and-the adjacentfen'd Reierring*to'the form of construction shown of the'container. V o I r J in Figs. Ltd 9 inclusive, 253 represents the floor Ihe inventionincludes the provision ofspecial of a flat car provided with the usual stake pockets ever, a stake is arranged opposite each end of flat car with a container securedthereto with load container 22 provided with doors 23.

While, as previously pointed out, flat cars vary in length, height and width and in the spacing of the stake pockets along the side sills, the individual stake pockets are practically universally of standard size, viz. l x 5", the long dimension being transversely of the car. containers may be fitted with .standardsized stakes such as Ed which willzproperly fit a stake pocket on any flat car. I

While in Figs. 1 and 2 only one container, is

shown, usually there will be 5-or 6 of them extending in a row along the top of the flat car.

As the'spacing of the stake pockets on different fiat cars varies, it follows that there can be no definite invariable position of the container relatively to the stakes. Similarly as the width of the fiat oars vary, there will be spaces of varying width between the stakes and the adjacent sides of the-containers. 1 I

To permit-the containers to be connected to the stakes regardless of the positions of the latter with respect to the contai'ners, chains 28, or other fiexible or universally movable connecting members are-used These chains are secured to the containers adjacent their corners and also to the stakes in such a way that the length of the chain between the points of attachment tothe container and stake may be adjusted.

' In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1'

to 9, inclusive, asingle. chain 28 is used at each side of the container secured at its ends by shackles '29 to the corners of the container. I

V On'each chain is threaded a stake, 25 in such a way that the position of the stake may be adjusting therealong. As shown, the stake is formed 7 of 'ashort length of rectangular steel tube or a similarly shaped malleable casting in which two key-hole slots 30 are formed in register with each other. The lower end of'the slot is enlarged sufficiently to permit free passage of the chain, while the upper end has a width only slightly greater than the diameter of the material of which the chain is made. The upper ends of the slots are, therefore, each adapted to receive one link of the chain flat-wise as shown in Fig. 3 and V the chain is positively prevented from moving by the engagement of the adjoining'links withthe inner walls of the stake on either side of the slots.

The stakehas a pin 33 on one side adapted to.

chain when pulled taut will be clear of the wooden fioor of the flat car.

The ability to adjust the stake along the chain avoids the necessity of two chains each long enough to. permit wide variations in the position of the stake with respect to the container. It is desirable to avoid long chains to save weight where no special advantage is derived from such length. Further,-.whether the chains are long or short, they should be'hung from the' container in such a way that when one of the chains and a stake attached thereto hang down,--it cannot reach the rail and catch in-a rail point orcro'ssing. Long chains with'individual stakes secured to their ends areshown-in a'further form of the Consequently the an essential feature of the invention;

2!. On top of the fiat car is a less-than-carinvention to secure special advantages as will be explained later.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 9 the chain and stake are prevented from dropping much below the car sill when the stake is not in a stake pocket by connecting the two ends of the chain to the corners of the container and adjusting the position of the stake therealong.

In addition to such adjustability of the stake with respect to the chain, it is desirable to provide means for drawing the chain taut on either side of the stake, although such means are not In some cases a simple hook may be sufficient, but such a hook provides only for adjustment to the extent ofthe lengthof a link or multiples thereof, not any intermediatefraction.

To enable the chain to be adjusted to any length and hence to be drawn taut, a modified form of chain hook is used. This hook designated generally as 35, is shown in detail in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. It consists of two parts 35 and 31' spaced apart the width of a link of the chain 'and connected at the'bottom so as to form a parallel-sided fork adapted to receive the chain; On the inner faces of the parts 36 and 31 are oppositely arranged inwardly extending ribs. 38, spaced apart wide enough to permit the passage of a link of the chain flatwise while preventing the passage of either of the two otherlinks connected thereto, as shown in Fig. 6. ,It is'the link tothe left of the link passing between the ribs which is in operative engagement with the hook. The sectionof ichain leading iromone sideof the stake may be pull d taut by hand and the link nearest theends of the ribs 33 slid therebetween. This provides, as. in the case of the slot in the stake, an adjustment of the length of a link or any multiple thereof but not any fraction thereof. To providefor'fractional adjustment the ribs are made of considerable length and arranged so that as a link slides down between the ribs, the distance between the link to the left (Fig. 6) of such link and the stake steadily increases until that section of the chain is .drawn taut. In other words a wedging action is obtained. From inspection of" Fig. 6 it will be seen that if theohairi extended to the chain hook in a horizontal direction the angleof the wedge formed by the upper parts of the ribs 38 would be: so steep that thechain would pull off.. On the other hand, if the chain extended upwardly to the chain hook at an angle of say 60 to the horizontal, a negative wedging action wouldresult, i. e.. as the chain dropped between theribsi it would become looser instead of tighter. Hence, while not always essential, it is preferable to provide a guide, such as 56; for the 13,111 to insure that the latter always extends towards the chain hook at the proper angle.

The distance Din Fig. 6 represents the distance the ribs 38 deviate from the are through which the chain would normally swing about its guide 40. If this distance D is in excess 'ofthe length of one'linkthen, byjfirst selecting the proper upwardly in the chain hook and loosen the chain are'those acting in a direction substantially parallel to the ribs38 of the hook. Joltsand jerks of the flat car may provide such forces but they are relatively very slightin magnitude and consepocket the stake fits the pocket in a direction pockets.

be anchored'to two pairs of stake pockets by i,

theportien of the chain on the left sideiFig 6) of the chain hook so as to drawthe chain down= wardly in a direction substantially parallel tothe ribs 88 will effectively prevent any accidental disengagement or" the chain from its hook and, further; will automatically tighten .the chain. A simple but effective form of spring for. thispur= pose is a flexible steel strip 42 attached to the inner wall of'one side of the container at l3 and extending outwards througha slot 44 in the front of the container. The end of the spring is curved (see Fig. 7) so asto hold it inengagement with anylink of the chain with which it may be engaged.

To retain the containers in place laterally wooden blocksor wedges t9 may'be'inserted be tween the stakes .24" and the adjacent sidespf In the constructionoi Figsi'l to 9, the con-' tainer isheld in position by a single pair of stake For greater security each container may stakes; A construction adaptedto'permit anchoring by four stakes is shown in Figs. 10 to 13 in V the center of the container the pockets on either side are opposite the corners of the container to whichthe chains are connected, vin which position theyare practically useless for the purpose of restraining longitudinal movement of the corn tainer, as the direction of the chains would be substantially vertical instead of being more or less horizontal. ,Under these conditionsthe only stake-pockets which can be used effectively when the chains are connected to the corners 'of the container'are. theonesopposite the middle of the container and theztwo pairs opposite the centers on a flat can; it requires stakes constructedso that either oneor two-stakes may be inserted inany stake pocket and still operate satisfactorily. H I

A stake 4i complying with theserequirements is'sho-wn in Figs. 11, 12, and 1 3. Itconsists of a shallow channel .57 x 2'. so -that-two of them may be inserted in the usual 5 x47 stake pockets, as shown at the center of Fig. 10. If, however, only one stake is 'inserted'inga-stake transverse withrespect to the-fiat car (the direction in which the stake acts in restraining lateral movement oithe container with the aid of a wood filler block if necessary) and restsunder the tene sion of its chain in an inclined position against.

the upper and lower side margins' of the stake pocket. r

"In Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive the chain on either side i its pocket instead of from pulling out. In Figs: 10

to 13 inclusive the chains extend upwardly from the stakes at a very considerable angle, so that means must beprovidedfor preventing the stakes pulling out of theirpockets.

Various stake retaining means may be used.

One simple formconsists ofa bar or latch 45 loosely pivoted at flt'oii-centerwith respect to the. 1

stake. I Slots 4'! and 4-8 are cut'inthe flanges of I the stake so that thezbar may be moved from I the full to the dotted line position shown in Fig. .12..

When itis desired to insert the stake in a pocket the bar is put in the dotted line position where it is held by gravity owing to the oil-center position of its pivot. through the pocket with its flanges parallelto the side of the fiatwar. Next the bar is moved into the full linefposition so that when the stake is drawn upwards by its chain the projecting end of the bar will engage the outer part of the stake pocket. It will be noted that the pressure on the bar due to: engagement with the stake-pocket is carried by theshoulders formed by-thebottom an'dtop of the slots ,4? and 48, respectively instead of by the pivot which is made loose for that purpose.

Each chain 59 is connected at one end to the upper end of a stake M and at theother end to the front of the container at, 5|. Intermediate these points of connection the chain passes around a housedsheave 52 well up on the side of the container. A stop or enlargement 53 is provided on he chain to limit the distance the chain may pass through the sheave and so prevent the end of the stake when hanging. free reaching down tothe level or the rails. chain hook 55 having awedge action like that oithe chain hook 35 and a spring iifor holding themohain in engagement with its hook." The chain h'ockis vdesirablyplaced as shown near the bottom of the container so that it may be reached byaman standing on the ground alongside of the flat caronwhich the containenis to be sec red: 1 J

'Desirably the angle of the. chains should be around-45 to the horizontal and less, rather than mora as .the movement to berestrained is horizontal rather than vertical;- I-Ience, inorder to provide for a; case whereiasta-ke pocket is in a position, such as indicated in Fig. 10,- where the normal pull of thechain or the stake would be at an angle of or more,one or more chain guides 58 are desirably provided around which the chainnlay be looped as shown in dotted lines in-Fig.- -10. v I V -While one of the chief reasons for inclining the chains as shown in Fig; 10,; is to raise the point of operative connection or" the chain to the containerii. c othe sheave) so that under no Y circumstances can the stake reach the raillevel. This. inclined arrangement has the advantage that it prevents f the tilting of the container vertically.

- 1 p 'Chains' horizontally;- arranged, as in Fig. l,

'have little or nozr estraining action against tilting.- A modification of the construction shown in Fig. 1, adapted to restrain tilting-,- is illustrated in Fig. 14. In this case the chain (iii is connected atits ends at 6 I 'to the container and has threaded thereon a stake 62 constructedas shown in Figs.

and 5 except that thepin El is replaced by The stake can then be dropped I Each chain is provided witha- E5 andspringsfit, are provided to enable the chain to be drawn taut oneither-sideof the stake. I i

A still further modification of the arrangement,

shown in Fig; 1, is illustrated in Fig. 15; in which construction the chainhooks are replaced; by

v for releasably securing the sameto a railroad fiat curved slots 10 in the front wall of the container. The ends of the chain are shackled at 12 to the upper margins of the enlarged upper ends H of the slots H2 so that the portions of the chain between the shackles l2 and the link passing through the slot areretained in a pocket (not shown) inside the container.

i It will be evident that the improved forms of stake described herein could be employed in the anchoring of chains used to hold articles of all kinds to fiat cars, such as loads of lumber, farm machinery and so forth.

Further the chain hook could be placed on the side sills of a fiat car or on a truck as armeans for securing and drawing taut a chain used to secure articles on the flat car or truck.

The term container is used to include not only the steel containers commonly referred to merely as containers but also crates such asare used for the transportation of automobiles, tanks for the transportation of oil, milk, etc., and other similar receptacles for goods.

I claim:

lpThe combination of a container and means for releasably'securing the same to a railroad flat car comprising a chain, meansfor releasably securing the chain to the container selectively at a plurality of points along the chain and permanently connected at points to the container near the corners of the latter, and a stake adapted to engage a stake pocket and operatively connected to the chain at a point intermediate the points at which the chain is secured to the container.

2. The combination of a container and means car comprising a chain, means for operatively connecting'the chain to the container at points near the corners of the latter and a stake adapted to engage a stake pocket and adapted to be releasably'locked to the chain selectively at a plurality of points therealong intermediate the points at which the chain is secured to the containerto allow the container to be secured to the flat car at any position therealong with respect to the stake pockets of the flat car; 3. The combination of a container and means for releasably securing the same to a railroad fiat car comprising a chain connected at its ends to the container near'the ends of the latter, a stake adapted to fit the stake pocket of a flat car, and

, formed with a slot therethrough of inverted keyhole shape, the enlarged lower end of the slot being large enough to permit free passage of the 'along with respect to the stake pockets oi the flat car.

4. The combination. of a container and means for releasably securing the same to a railroad-fiatcar comprising a chain, means for securing the chain to a portion of the fiat-car and means: for securing another section of thechain to the container including a chain hook having chain engaging surfaces inclined with respect to'the axis of that part of the chain which extends between said two means, whereby by sliding the link of the chain which is in engagementwith said surfaces,

said part of the chain may be drawn taut to positively prevent movement of the container with respect to the flat-car in a direction-parallel to said part of thechain.

5. The combination of a container and means for releasably securing the same to a railroad fiat car comprising a tension member, means secured to said member for anchoring it to a railroad'flat car, and means for securing the memher to the container comprising a wedge-shaped part attached to'the container, whereby movement of 'the' tension member relatively to said part causes the tension member to be drawn taut.

6'. The'combination of a container and means for releasably securing the same tola railroad fiat car comprising a tension member, means semember.

7 "I. The'combination of a container and means for releasably securing the same to a railroad flat car comprising a chain, means secured to the chain whereby one partthereof may be connected to a railroad flat car and a chain hook on the container having chain engaging surfaces making an obtuse angle with respect to the axis of the chain adjacent the chain hook,'whereby sliding the part of thechain in engagement with f drawn taut.

8. The combination of a container and means for releasably securing the same to'a railroad flat car comprising a chain, connected at one end to' the container, means attached to the other end of thechain for connecting it to a portion of the flat car, a chain hook on the container adapted to engage the chain at a plurality of points intermediate its ends and thereby provide for adjustment in the length of the chain to within the length of a link thereof, said chain hook having chain engaging surfaces making an obtuse angle with respect to the axis of the chain 7 adjacent the chain hook, whereby sliding the link of the chain in engagement with said surfaces therealong causes that part of the chain between the hook and the flat car to be drawn taut. a

9. The combination of a container and means for-releasably securing the same to a railroad fiat car comprising a chain, means secured to the chain whereby one part thereof may be connected to a railroad fiat car, a chain hook on the con tain'er having chain engaging surfaces making an obtuse angle with respect to the axis of the chain adjacent the chain hook, wherebysliding the part of the chain in engagement with said surfaces therealong causes that part of the chain between thehook and the flat car to be drawn taut, and a spring acting on the part or" the chain on the opposite'side of the hook to prevent unintentional disengagement of the chain and hook. I I

10. The combination of a container and means for releasably securing the same to a railroad flat car comprising a chain connected at one end to the container, means attached to the other end of the chain for connecting it to a portion of the 'flat car, a chain hook on the container adapted to engage the chain at a plurality of points intermediate its ends and thereby providefor adjustment in the length'of the chain to Within the -length of a link thereof, a chain guide intermediate said means and said chain hook, said chain hook having chain engaginglsurfaccs making an obtuse angle with respect to the axis of that part of the chain which extends from the guide to thechain hook whereby sliding the link of the chain in engagement with said surfaces from the open end of the hook towards the closed end causes that part of the chain between the hook and the fiat car to be drawn taut. 7

11. The combination of a container and'means for releasably securing the same to a railroad fiat-car having stake-pockets, comprising tension 1 means, the engagement of said anchoring means anchoringmeans, means for engaging both a stake-pocket and said anchoring means,'means on the container for engaging said anchoring with one of the two other means being selective at a plurality of spaced points along the anchoring means to compensate for variations in the position of the container relative 'to'said stakepo'cket, one of said means including a wedgeshaped part for sliding engagement with a portion of the anchoring means for taking up the slack in said anchoring means after said selective engagement has been made.

12. lhe combination of a container and means for releasably securing the same to a railroad anchoring means permanently connected to the fiat-car having stake-pockets,comprising tension container; means for engaging both a stake- 7 pocket and said anchoring means, means on the container for engaging said anchoring means, the

' engagement of said anchoring means with one ing means for taking up the slack in said anchoring means after said selective engagement has been made. 7 a

C RIDSDALE ELLIS. 

